Written question asked by Greg Hands (Conservative) on Wednesday, 16 November 2005, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 21 November 2005. It was answered by Jack Straw (Labour) on Thursday, 24 November 2005 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

BBC (Foreign Language Broadcasts)

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the BBC with regard to the ending of Central and Eastern European language radio broadcasts.

Answer: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) was consulted about the BBC World Service (BBCWS) proposals, including at the Annual Ministerial meeting which my noble Friend the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (Lord Triesman of Tottenham) chaired. I consented to the closures.Closing some radio services is one part of a major reprioritisation. The resources released will be reinvested in line with BBCWS' overall future strategy, which includes new online services and Arabic TV. BBCWS believes these changes will lead to an increase in its global audience and impact.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 439 c2240-1W;439 c2238-9W; 30670
Session: 2005-06
Subjects: Broadcasting programmes Languages Radio BBC World Service Overseas broadcasting International broadcasting
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk